Bangladesh's unmanned railway crossings remain a deadly safety crisis
Bangladesh Railway continues to face serious safety risks at level crossings across the country. With nearly 80% of all crossings unmanned, accidents remain a persistent problem. Despite long-standing concerns, no major projects have been launched to address the issue in recent years. Official figures show Bangladesh has a total of 2,789 level crossings—1,468 authorised and 1,321 unauthorised. Among the authorised ones, only 564 (38.41%) have staff present, while 904 (61.58%) operate without any personnel. The unauthorised crossings, making up 47% of the total, were mostly built during government development projects.
No technological upgrades, such as automated warning systems, have been installed at unmanned crossings since 2017. While future plans include automatic gates along the Dhaka-Chattogram highway, no concrete progress has been reported. In 2018, a feasibility study recommended building 14 overpasses and underpasses in the Joydebpur-Dhaka-Narayanganj section. However, no work has started yet. The railway authority now plans to construct underpasses in the Narayanganj-Joydebpur area, though timelines remain unclear. Fatal accidents occur frequently at both manned and unmanned crossings, highlighting the ongoing dangers. Yet, no immediate solutions have been implemented to improve safety.
The railway network still relies on outdated safety measures, with no staffing improvements or technology upgrades in years. While proposals for underpasses and overpasses exist, delays leave thousands of crossings vulnerable. Without urgent action, the risk of accidents will persist.
